Page 4 - Supreme Court

"Homebuyers disappointed": Supreme Court questions RERA effectiveness

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it is high time all states rethought the constitution of the real estate regulatory authority (RERA) as the institution is doing nothing, except facilitating default

Rera just helping builders in default; better to abolish it: Supreme Court

Supreme Court criticises functioning of RERAs, sets aside Himachal Pradesh High Court stay on shifting State regulator's office to Dharamshala

'Better to abolish Rera': Supreme Court questions real estate body's role

The Supreme Court orally criticised the functioning of the real estate regulator Rera, saying it appears to only benefit defaulting builders

No release unless title changed: SC to Neeraj Pandey on 'Ghooskhor Pandat'

You cannot denigrate a section of society by using such a title, the Supreme Court remarked on Thursday while rapping filmmaker Neeraj Pandey on his film 'Ghooskhor Pandat'. The top court was hearing a plea seeking a stay on the release of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer film on OTT platform Netflix. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Central Board for Film Certification and Pandey on a plea against the movie. "Why should you denigrate a section of society by using such a title. This is against morality and public order. We will not allow you to release the film unless you tell us the changed title," the bench said. The top court directed Pandey to file an affidavit that the film 'Ghooskhor Pandat' doesn't denigrate any section of society. The matter would be heard again on February 19. The plea alleged that the movie promotes caste and religion-based stereotyping and threatens public order, communal harm

SC dismisses Jairam Ramesh's plea on retrospective environmental clearances

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition filed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh concerning retrospective environmental clearances to projects. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned how can the petitioner seek a review of its earlier verdict by way of a writ petition. "Please tell us how the writ is maintainable. We know the design behind these kind of writ petitions. There was a judgement. That has been set aside by a larger bench in review. Now, you are indirectly filing a review petition," the CJI told the counsel appearing for Ramesh. "Be ready for exemplary cost," the CJI said. As the bench showed its disinclination in entertain the petition, the counsel sought permission to withdraw it. The bench permitted him to withdraw the plea with liberty to avail remedy in accordance with law. On November 18 last year, reversing its own verdict, the top court paved the way for retrospective environmental clearance by the Centre

SC seeks AAIB progress report on Air India Ahmedabad crash in three weeks

Bench also questioned implications of grounding the Dreamliner aircraft, asking whether such a step would effectively ground an entire airline and how many airlines across the world operate the model

Judicial process itself can become punishment if misused: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has said fidelity to the rule of law requires the court to remember that the process itself can become the punishment if this responsibility is not exercised with care as it quashed the charges of caste-based violence against a whistleblower in the Madhya Pradesh VYAPAM examination scam. Anand Rai had challenged the Madhya Pradesh High Court order upholding the framing of charges in a case of caste-based atrocities arising from alleged violence and abuse against an MP, MLA and government officials during a rally in 2022. A bench of justices Sajay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh which quashed the charges under SC/ST Act against Rai said the court must consciously distinguish between a genuine case that warrants a trial and one that rests only on suspicion or assumption or for that matter without any basis. "To allow a matter to proceed despite the absence of a prima facie case is to expose a person to the strain, stigma, and uncertainty of criminal proceedings without ..

SC seeks update from Centre on protocol followed in Air India crash probe

The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Wednesday to file a brief report on the "procedural protocol" followed so far, after it was informed that the investigation into the June 12, 2025, Air India plane crash by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) is at its fag end. Air India's Boeing 787-8 flight AI171, en route to London's Gatwick airport, was operated by pilot-in-command Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Captain Clive Kunder. The crash took place after the plane took off from Gujarat's Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board. Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was also among the victims. On Wednesday, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared in the court representing the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), that the AAIB probe is in final stages and some parts it need to be carried out in foreign countries. The top law

SC refuses stay on Zydus cancer drug launch, tells BMS to seek relief in HC

Apex court declines to halt Zydus' biosimilar nivolumab launch, asks Bristol Myers Squibb to seek interim relief before Delhi High Court

SC rejects plea claiming buyers unaware of TDS rule in property deals

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition that had alleged the absence of a mechanism to make people aware of their obligation about the tax deducted at source (TDS) while purchasing property valued at more than Rs 50 lakh. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to entertain the plea that had claimed that honest purchasers acting in good faith were later exposed to penalty and interest, despite having no intention to default. "Dismissed," the bench ordered. The petitioner, who appeared in the court in person, told the bench that the plea relates to the issue concerning the enforcement of a provision of the Income Tax Act in property transactions exceeding Rs 50 lakh. "Under the present framework, the entire TDS obligation or liability is placed solely on the buyer on the implicit assumption that every property purchaser, regardless of the background and expertise, possesses a working knowledge of the income-tax law," the petitioner said. He claimed tha

SC agrees to list fresh plea against Assam CM over alleged hate speeches

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to consider listing another plea filed by four people seeking a direction against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a series of alleged hate speeches targeting Muslims in the state. On Tuesday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant had agreed to list for hearing a separate plea of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and CPI leader Annie Raja seeking action against the chief minister over a viral video allegedly showing him taking aim and firing with a rifle at members of the Muslim community. On Wednesday, the bench was urged to list the fresh plea along with the one filed by Left leaders. "We will see," the CJI said. The fresh petition was filed by former professor Hiren Gohain, former DGP of Assam Harekrishna Deka, senior journalist Paresh Chandra Malakar and senior advocate Santanu Borthakur. The plea alleged that the chief minister has repeatedly made statements that incite discrimination, social and economic boycott and ..

SC to examine challenge to I-T law allowing searches of digital devices

Petition questions Section 247 of Income Tax Act, 2025, saying expanded powers to access digital devices and virtual space violate privacy and lack safeguards

SC cuts ₹2 cr payout to ₹25 lakh awarded to woman for 'faulty haircut'

The Supreme Court has slashed the compensation from Rs 2 crore to Rs 25 lakh, awarded to a woman for a "faulty haircut" at a luxury hotel salon. A bench comprising Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan, in a judgement delivered on February 6, held that while "deficiency in service" was established, compensation in consumer disputes must be based on "material evidence" and not the "mere asking" or "whims and fancies" of the complainant. "The damages cannot be awarded merely on presumptions or whims and fancies of the complainant. To make out a case for award of damages, especially when the claim is to the tune of crores of rupees, some trustworthy and reliable evidence has to be led," Justice Bindal, who authored the 34-page judgment, said. The verdict said it was not a case where the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission was considering a small issue where compensation could be awarded by applying a thumb rule. "Claim of compensation was for crores of rupees, for which some

SC nudges FSSAI to 'seriously' consider front-of-pack warning labels

The Supreme Court urged FSSAI to evaluate front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods, citing concerns over excessive sugar, fat and sodium and the need to protect public health

SC asks Centre to respond to pleas on creamy layer exclusion for SCs, STs

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to file its response to the pleas seeking a direction to lay down criteria for exclusion of creamy layer of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes from availing benefits of reservation in admissions and public employment. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria was hearing the petitions filed by O P Shukla and the Samta Andolan Samiti seeking enforcement of the landmark judgement of August 1, 2024 on reservation. It asked the Centre to file its response on the pleas and said that they will be taken up after some time. The creamy layer principle was laid down in the famous Mandal Commission judgement and under the principle, the affluent people among OBCs were barred from taking quota benefits in admissions and jobs. In a landmark verdict, a seven-judge constitution bench headed by the then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, by a majority of 6:1, held that states are constitutionally empowe

Advance search notice can derail probes in digital era: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday highlighted the practical difficulties faced by investigators in the digital age and said giving a prior notice before a search and seizure could effectively end an investigation before it begins. The top court was hearing a PIL challenging the scope of search and seizure powers under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act on the ground that it has the potential of misuse by the authorities. Section 132 of the Income Tax Act empowers IT officials to conduct a search and seizure when they have "reason to believe" that a person has undisclosed income, assets, or documents. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria heard submissions by senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for PIL petitioner Vishwaprasad Alva, for some time and later deferred it for consideration after two weeks. During the hearing, Justice Bagchi highlighted the practical challenges of issuing prior notice in search and seizure cases, particular

Who is a consumer: Courts focus on dominant objective to determine status

A recent Supreme Court ruling reinforces that developers and service providers must prove profit-first motive before denying consumer status

'Elections fought in court:' SC on hate speech pleas against Himanta Sarma

The Supreme Court said elections often turn into court battles while hearing petitions against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for making alleged hate speech

NEET-PG row: Cut-offs reduced, PG seats filled at single-digit scores

A sharp cut in NEET-PG qualifying marks has allowed candidates with very low scores to get PG seats in govt colleges, raising concerns among doctors over medical standards

SC limits micro-observers' role in Bengal SIR, extends scrutiny deadline

The Supreme Court clarified that micro-observers have no adjudicatory role in West Bengal's voter roll revision, allowed their replacement with Group B officers and extended scrutiny timelines